Smoking While on a Incline

Most manufacturers didn’t intend for their trucks to be off-roaded the way that many people think their vehicles should perform. Heck, I got a fairly tricked out TJ in the garage that still need axle upgrades and gears because the manufacturer really didn’t intend for this model Jeep to be running the Rubicon. Serious off roading with any vehicle means breaking your truck and your wallet.

As to the G3 Tacoma, this truck seems to be a compromise between an urban commuter for city slickers and yippies, an economic high efficiency fuel vehicle, a cheap starter truck for 20 sumptins, a Baja racer, a sports car-like truck, and “kinda” an off road vehicle. Bullet proof it’s not.

But the smoking does bother me... I do remember early Toys smoking on hill climbs. Thought they solved it though...

Still wonder bout this motor off road...

 

Subscribed!

 

Agreed, Plus,

And to item one - also oil pulling in through the valve guides as mentioned earlier. That would explain why it's the same cylinder all the time that is getting "flooded out".

Have not looked under the Valve covers on this engine to see where the oil return drain holes are but...

In my mind (could be a flashback from the 60's, or I'm having a stroke) I can picture the vehicle at a 30deg+ angle and the oil pooling in the back of the valve cover because the return/drain hole is is between cylinders 4 and 6. Or if there is one at the very back, it is too small for all the oil volume to return at that angle.

So possible fixes could include either enlarging the rear oil drain hole/passage. Or adding an external oil drain hose from the Valve cover to the oil pan.

Keeping my eyes peeled on this thread as it looks like there is a design issue with these engines at over 30deg when in that position for a period of time. One that could "brick" the engine. i.e. hydraulic locking

 

Not to be a smart ass but does the 2.7 have this issue?

 

Do you have a 2.7?

 

I do...but it’s brand new and hasn’t been wheeled yet. My gen 1 3.4 and my gen 1 2.7 certainly didn’t have this issue that I’m aware of.

Just curious...like I said not being a smart ass.

 

You need to hit that thing a little faster. The 3.5 is designed for high RPM. Make sure you send another video.

 

Step it up! Lets see it hang at 35*.

 

@TheTacoma very off topic, but what is your suspension setup? leveled or lifted? tire size? really dig the stance of your taco.

 

Thanks man!

I’m running
Icon uniball UCAs
King ext travel front set at about 2.5”
King rear shocks
Ome Dakar’s

The stance comes from the SCS F5s which are wrapped in Cooper STT PRO

 

I dig it man. Kinda what im shooting for with mine if i ever get the funds/motivation to do it lol

 

Lol not a big deal amongst the Jeep folks. Just need a catch can. The JL already has a custom kit for it:

 

Jeeps not the only thing smokin in that video.

 

Was there any real resolution to this or just speculation?

 

Looks like a catch can is gunna be the best bet.

 

Really ? Never ending thread I guess .

 

Being over head cams there is a lot of oil in the upper end at that great an angle some how it's possibly getting into the manifold because it's pooling at the back of the cam covers. I know nothing about a 3.5 where is the PVC located? Is there a vent hose some where at the rear of a cam cover? Valve guide seals being over whelmed from being flooded with oil? That could explain a rear plug being fouled. The knock is burning oil. Oil has virtually no anti knock properties this is why diesels rattle.

 

Mine does the same thing never figured it out.

 

Tagged

 

Final (I think) update: after the hill climb & blown engine Toyota denied the warranty, I appealed to Toyota (which meant putting up $4k for them to look at the truck again). It took about two months in the shop, but they finally rebuilt the engine. They said if it happens again there's a good chance they won't cover it. There's nothing more they're willing to do (for example, they refuse to lemon law the truck).

They also won't tell me what ascent angle or wading depth is within the limits of the truck's design. This is pretty surprising for a truck they market as an off-road vehicle. Land Rover, Jeep, etc release those specs for theirs.

The combination of no spec wading depth and no spec maximum ascent angle (Toyota won't give me guidance on either) makes the truck basically worthless to me as an off-road vehicle.

I've documented my whole story and put my story online here: http://neverbuyatacomaoffroad.com/ in the hopes that someone else can learn from my mistakes.